Expansible metal band



C. H. KESTENMAN EXLANSIBLE METAL BAND Filed March 20, 1924 Patented Dec. 23, 1924. A

PHAT-EN F F l CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, OFPROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, SIGNOR T0 KESTEN- MAN BROTHERS MFG. 00., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF ABRAHAM KESTENMAN CHARLES H. KESTENHAN.

I EXPANSIBLE METAL BAND.

Application filed March 20, 1824. Serial No. 700,509.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Kns'rnn- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Providence, in the county of Provldence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and ruseful Improvements in Ex-' pansible Metal Bands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to im rovements in- "each other to provi e for expansion in the' length of the bracelet, chain, belt or other article in which it is incorporated.

One object of the resent improvement 1s to provide an expansi le strap, band or chain in which the elements are more neatly and closely joined or connected and which may be flexed and expanded without dislocation of its parts and without disclosing unslghtly joints or seams.

Another object of the improvement 1s to provide a device of the, type specified in which the parts are connected by resilient means that stretch or expand throughout the full length of the article so as to secure a greater degree of resiliency and expansion. Another object of the improvement 1s to provide a device of the type specified in which are incorporated one or more expansion elements extending continuously throughout the full length of the article as differentiated from expansible bracelet structures having relatively short individual compression springs in the several links.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a device of the type specified in which the resilient elements or springs are stretched instead of being compressed, whereby to provide for greater expansion without deterioration 'or weakening of the springs after long periods of use.

Another ob'ect of the improvement is to provide a device of the type specified which may be manufactured from sheet-metal parts struck up in dies and assembled with a minimum of hand operations.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a device of the type specified of stronger construction and less liable to be broken or damaged in use.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth the following speclfication which describes a referred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the-drawings:

Fig. .1 is a perspective view of the imroved metal strap, band or chain showing.

1t contracted to normal length but flexed in substantially clrcular form;

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of I several of the links of the strap, band or chain, two of the outer links being shown in section in a medial plane extending laterally therethrough;

Fig.- 3 is. a cross-sectional view of one of the outer' links of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the inner slidable link telescoped within the outer link;

Fi 4 is an end view of the end links of the evice showing the means for fastening the resilient expansionelement thereto;

Fig. 5 is a, longitudinal sectional view of several of the links of the strap, band or chain taken in a vertical plane on the line 55 of Fig. 2 and showing the links in expanded relation;

Fi '6 is a perspective view of the sheetmeta blank from which the outer enclosing link or-main element of the strap, band or 1 chain is constructed;

Fi 7 is a perspective view of the complete outer link or element;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the blank from which theinner link is constructed;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the completed innerlink;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the blank from which the inner terminal link of the strap, band or chain is constructed; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the com- I pleted innerterminal link.

My improved strap, band or chain comprises, essentially, a series of main elements or outer link-members 2 of box-like form, within which are enclosed similar box-like connecting-links 3 arranged to slide with respect to the main links and limited in' tllifill slidin movement to prevent the? main mentsthe chain from being pulted apart or dislocated. Passing through the several links of the stra band orehain, and preferably enclosed wit in the inner limb 3 thereof is one or more resilient con'neeting.

means such as a helical spring of relative fine tempered wire. In most instances in place of the springs.

Referring now to Fig. 7 of the drawings, the main or outer link-member 2'oompr1ses a hollow or tubular box of folded sheetmetal having 0 n ends. The outer links 2 are struck up rom-blanks 5 stamped from sheet-metal in the shape indicated in Fig. 6. The central or bod portion of the blank 5 'is of rectangular s ape and from this central 'portion the sides of the blank are tapered inwardly to a slight degree and extended at the end in two opposite, narrow strips or legs 6. To form the finished boxlink 2 the blank 5 is folded across its width at points indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 6, so that the two sides of the box Wlll stand upright therefrom with their lateral ed slight! tapered as shown in Fig. 7. centra portion of the blank 5 forms the to of the box and its bottom com rises the en s 0% the strip which are folds inwardly to I meet at the center of the link. In folding The outer edges 8 of the strip or the ends of the strip inwardly the opposite legs 6 are bent downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 7, with their faces abutting to provide upright abutments or prongs Fig. 5, when the box is reversed in cisitipnfi.

' extending between the legs 6 abut alon the bottom of the box as shown in Fig. to form a smooth seam on the under side of the link.

The inner telescoping links or connectingelements 3 of the strap, band or chain are also ofhollow box-like form with open ends as illus rated in Fig. 9. The sheet-metal blanks 0 for the inner links 3 are of the form shown in Fig. 8, consisting in a rectangular strip havin its ends recessed or cut away at 11 to arm op ite projecting tabs or fingers 12. The b ank 10 is folded in tubular form to provide the'hollow'box shown in Fi 9, the tabs 12 meeting on the under side t ereof with their edges abutting to form a smooth seam. The cut'out portions 11 at the ends of the blank 10 provide a rectangular slot or openingl-ii in the under side of the box or link-member 3, adapted to receive the lugs orabutments 7., see Fig. 7, which project from the bottom of the main links 2; it being understood that Figs. 7 and 9 show the link-members 2 and 3 reversed in position or bottom side up.

As before stated the inner link-membersii teleseom within the e of the outer mom-- 7,. see

bers 2 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, and the relative sliding action of the two sets of links to expand the chain or band is limited by the engagement of the prongs 7 on the main links 2 with the ends ot the slots or openings 13 in the bottom of the inner links 3. The band or chain is normally held contracted withits main' links in 0 one relation, that is with their ends abutting as. shown in Fig. 2, by means of one ormore resilient elements such as elastic cords or wires ring which extend continuously throng al "of the links in the series.- As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, ll-

may employ two site parallel helical springs 15 construe w of relatively fine tempered wire. The s rings 15 pass through the tubular inner-1i s 3 and are maintained in spaced apart relation by the abutments or prongs on the outer links 2 which PIOJgCt upwardly into the center of the inner links as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

' Any suitable means may be provided for attaching the ends of the resilient elements or springs 15 to the end links of the chain or band. As a convenient and simple arrangementfor this purpose the two 0 posite inner end members or links 16 may lie end link 16 as so constructed, the blank from which it is formed being illustrated in Fig.

10. It will be observed from Fig. '10 that the blank 18 for the end link .16- is provided with integral projections or bars 17 which, afterthe blan has 11 formed up into the hollow box as shown in Fig. 11, are bent upwardly to extend across its open end, it being understood thatthe ends of the springs 15 are'provided with loops or rings 19 adapted to be hooked around the fingers 17 2 and d.

It is further to be understood that the several links of the chain or band are assembled in telescopic relation before the outer or main links 2 are completely formed. That is to say, the expansible elements or springs 15 are threaded through the inner l1llkS'3 and the outer links 2 are then apand force their fingers 6 into place to provide the prongs 7 reaching up through the slots or openings 13 on the under side of the inner links 3.

ro-. vided with fingers or bars 17 exten ing across their open ends. Fig. 11 shows an as shown most clearly in Figs."

The springs 15 orother resilient expan:

elcments, will be drawn into close or abut ting relation with their next adjoining inner links, as illustrated in Fig. 2, but a slight portion. of each of the end links 16 will project beyond the end of the terminal outer links 2 as shown in Fig. 1.. These inner end links 16 may be employed for mounting a clasp, catch, swivel or other suitable device for use in clasping the ends of. the chain together or, for joining the strap, band or bracelet to a watch or ornament. If desired, the two ends of the strap, band or chain may be permanently joined together by a suitable box-link of the same form as the-other outer links 2, whereby a continuous band is provided for use as an expansible bracelet, arm-garter or for any other purpose. With such a construction the last outer enclosing link may be applied to place after the ends of the elastic bands or springs 15 are fastened together to hold the article contracted.

It has been explained that the lateral edges of the end portions of the blank 5 from which the main link 2 isconstructed are tapered so that the, edges of the sides of. the link are inclined toward the bottom, see Fig. 7 This provides that when the links are assembled in the strap, band or chain the latter may be flexed to bend it into substantially circular form with the links still fitting closely together without open seams between their ends. In other words, the sides of the link are shaped more or less like the segments of a circle to provide for bending 01' curving the band or chain as a whole.

It will be seen that my improved structure provides an article of the type specified of extremely neat and finished-appearance with the parts held in. cooperative relation by expansible connecting-means which are entire- 1y enclosed and concealed from view. Furthermore, the link-elements are so formed and constructed as to eliminate unsightly scams or openings at the joints between their ends and the several articulated links are held together in such way that they cannot be dislocated or pulled apart. A feature of the improvement which is of utmost importance is the provision for extending the resilient expansion-means continuously throughout the ,whole length of the strap or chain as distinguished from the usual construction of like articles, such as bracelets, wherein each section or link of the device encloses its own spring. Furthermore, in previous constructions where bracelets or with a minimum of hand labor.

like articles have been made with individual springs enclosed within the several links these springs must be compressed to expandthe bracelet and thus are subjected to abnormal strain so that they soon lose their resiliency and cease to be efiicicnt for the purpose designed. In the presentconstruc tion the resilient elements or springs are stretched or expanded throughout the whole length of the chain or band so that the expansion' is distributed over a greater extent and thus no undue strain is put upon any part of the expansion-means. Furthermore,

- it is a-well known fact that a long spring may be stretched or expanded and allowed to return to its normal length without Weak- .ening or destroying its resiliency to any appreciable extent, whereas the repeated compression of a relatively short spring will ultimately destroy its resiliency and render it dead or inexpansive from loss of temper.

It is further to be observed that 'my improved construction provides. an article of the type specified which may be manufactured very economically from sheet metal parts formed up. in dies and assembled in cooperative, relation by automatic machinery The improvement also provides an article of much more finished and ornamental appearance,

with the links of the device susceptible of surface embellishment by engraving, piercing, or embossing as usually practiced in the jewelry art. In fact, the improved construction lends itself to many and varied uses as applied to articles of jewelry and oranient and as adapted for other purposes as indi- I cated. g

It will thus be observed that my invention provides a particularly simple and neat form of construction for embodiment in an article of manufacture for use in jewelry manufacture and kindred arts. The strap, band or chain may be manufactured in different lengths to adapt it to be marketed as.

an article of manufacture for use in producing jewelry such as bracelets, arm-bands and necklaces, or for kindred novelties such as garters, beltsor the like. It is to be understood that the device as herein shown and described is not limited to any particular use but may be adapted for other purposes than those specified and, further, the form and arrangement of the parts of the device may be varied without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim: v

1. In a device'of the'ty e specified, the combination of a series 0 outer box-like link-members having prongs projecting inwardly from their sides. a series of inner boxlike link-members enclosed within the outer members in telescopic relation therewith and provided with slots in'their sides through I which the prongs on the outer members pro- 2. In a device of the type specified, the

combination of a series of outer box-like link-members having prongs pro ect1ng 1nwardly at their ends, a series of inner boxlike link-members enclosed within the outer members, said inner members having openings in their sides through which the prongs on the outer members project, and resilient expansion means extending through the inner members throughout thewhole series and anchored to the terminal links to provide for expansion and contraction of the device as a whole.

3. In an article of the type specified, the

combination of a series of outer, hollow box-like link-members, a series of inner boxlike link -members arranged in telescopic relation with the outer members, the inner terminal members of the series having end bars,

combination of a series of outer hollow box-- like link-members, a series of inner box-like link-members arranged in telescopic relation with the outer members and formed with openings in their sides, prongs at the ends of the outer members projecting through the openings in the inner members and arranged in ,themedial plane of the members, and helical springs extending through the inner members with the prongs maintaining them in spaced apart relation and with their ends attached to the terminal links of the series to provide for ex ansion and contraction o the article throng out its length. r

In testimony whereof I hereunto am); my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN. 

